How many items does ClipHistory actually store on my Mac?

ClipHistory saves your 150 most recent unpinned clips, plus unlimited pinned items. Everything stays 100% local on your Mac—no cloud, no syncing, no account needed.

Can I use AI to transform my clipboard items, and what does it cost?

Yes. ClipHistory supports 5 AI providers: Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google, and custom endpoints. You bring your own API key, so you pay only for what you use directly to those services. No additional subscription to ClipHistory itself—it's built into your $19.99 lifetime license.

I'm worried about pasting sensitive data. Is my clipboard history private?

Completely. ClipHistory runs 100% locally on your Mac with no cloud sync or external connections. Your clipboard history is encrypted at rest and never leaves your device unless you explicitly use AI transforms with your own API key.

Is this really a one-time $19.99 purchase, or is there a monthly fee?

One payment, forever. $19.99 lifetime license, no recurring charges, no subscription, no hidden costs. You own it on any Mac you use.

Clipboard History for Zed Editor on Mac: The Developer's Missing Productivity Tool

If you're a macOS developer working in Zed Editor, you've probably experienced that frustrating moment: you copy a piece of code, config, or a URL, only to overwrite it seconds later with something else. By the time you need it again, it's gone. A clipboard history manager isn't just a nice-to-have—it's a workflow multiplier that keeps you in the zone.

ClipHistory solves this exact problem. It's a native macOS clipboard manager built specifically for developers who need quick access to their copy history without leaving their editor or breaking focus.

Why Zed Editor Users Need Clipboard History

Zed Editor is fast, minimal, and distraction-free—exactly what serious developers want. But that minimalism means Zed doesn't have built-in clipboard history. When you're refactoring code, copying API keys, managing multiple branches, or pulling snippets from documentation, you're constantly switching between your clipboard and other applications.

Without clipboard history, you either:

Lose important snippets and have to recreate them
Create temporary files or notes just to hold clipboard data
Spend mental energy remembering what you copied and when

A dedicated clipboard manager bridges that gap. ClipHistory keeps your full clipboard history—up to 150 recent items plus unlimited pinned clips—instantly accessible via ⌘⇧V. No app switching. No lost context.

How ClipHistory Works with Your Mac Development Workflow

Instant Access with One Keystroke

Hit ⌘⇧V and your entire clipboard history appears in a searchable overlay. Find that regex pattern you copied 20 minutes ago, a database connection string, or a GitHub URL—in seconds. Type to filter. Click to paste. That's it.

Smart Type Detection

ClipHistory automatically recognizes what you've copied: code blocks, URLs, email addresses, colors, phone numbers, images, and more. This makes browsing history faster and helps you organize without manual tagging.

Pin Your Frequently Used Snippets

You have unlimited pinned items. Keep your most-used code templates, boilerplate, credentials templates, or common commands pinned. They stay at the top of your history, always one keystroke away. Perfect for environment variables, repeated paste patterns, or code you use across projects.

AI-Powered Transformations

ClipHistory includes optional AI transforms: summarize long documentation, translate code comments, rewrite for clarity, clean up whitespace or formatting—all without leaving the clipboard interface. You bring your own API key (Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google, or custom), so you maintain control and privacy. No subscription, no vendor lock-in.

Built for Privacy and Speed

As a macOS developer, you likely paste sensitive data: API keys, database credentials, private tokens. ClipHistory is 100% local. Nothing goes to the cloud. No account. No tracking. Your clipboard history stays on your Mac, fully encrypted at rest.

The app is universally signed and notarized by Apple, so you can trust its integrity. It's lightweight and runs silently in the background, with no performance impact on Zed or your system.

Custom Boards and Paste Stacks

Beyond basic history, ClipHistory lets you organize clips into Custom Boards—think of them as folders for different projects, languages, or contexts. Create a board for your current sprint, another for API documentation you paste frequently, another for configuration templates.

The Paste Stack feature lets you paste multiple clips in sequence, speeding up repetitive multi-paste workflows common in development (think building environment files, config structures, or test data).

One License, Forever

Unlike Paste, Maccy, or Alfred (which often use subscriptions or require annual updates), ClipHistory is $19.99—a single, one-time payment. No recurring charges. No feature locks. No upsell. You own it forever on any Mac you use.

Real Developer Scenarios

Scenario 1: Refactoring Across Files You're moving code between files in Zed. Copy function A, paste in the new file. Copy import statement B, paste. Copy type definition C. With clipboard history, you don't have to open multiple windows or use intermediate notes—every copy is just ⌘⇧V away.

Scenario 2: Configuration Management Switching between environments? Paste a staging API key, then a production one, then a test credential. ClipHistory keeps all three accessible. Pin them for even faster access next time.

Scenario 3: Documentation and Research You're copying URLs, code examples, and snippets from docs into your project. ClipHistory saves every URL and code block you grab, so you can easily backtrack to references or rebuild lost context.

Comparison with Other Tools

Paste: Full-featured but subscription-based and includes cloud sync (which adds complexity if you don't need it)
Maccy: Free and open-source, but lacks AI transforms and custom boards
Alfred: Powerful, but clipboard history is one of many features, not the core focus
Raycast: Modern, but primarily a command launcher with clipboard features secondary; requires subscription for advanced use
Pastebot: iOS/macOS sync focus, different use case than local-first development

ClipHistory is laser-focused: clipboard history for macOS developers, 100% local, AI-optional, one fair price.

Getting Started

Installation takes 30 seconds. Launch ClipHistory, set it to start at login, and customize your ⌘⇧V hotkey if you prefer something else. It integrates invisibly with Zed Editor and all your other apps.

Your clipboard history is immediately available. No setup, no configuration required—though you can add an AI key later if you want transforms.

Conclusion

A clipboard history manager isn't a flashy tool. It's invisible until you need it, then it saves you minutes every day. For Zed Editor developers on macOS, ClipHistory removes a tiny but constant friction point: remembering what you copied and where to find it.

If you spend more than a few hours per week in your editor, the $19.99 investment pays for itself in reclaimed focus and recovered productivity.

Get ClipHistory — $19.99 and stop losing your best code snippets.